“We have to ask the question will [Specter] be with the right policies that our president has put out there. ... There’s too much doubt in my mind not to have the intent right now to get in this race, pending just a little time with my family to make sure we’re all together.”

Sestak faces some significant hurdles in challenging Specter in a Democratic primary. The national Democratic establishment, led by President Barack Obama and Gov. Ed Rendell, quickly rallied behind Specter after he announced he was switching parties last month.

Sestak told CNN that he has not spoken with the president since he began mulling a primary challenge to Specter, but received at least one call from Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Robert Menendez.

But Sestak, who told POLITICO earlier this month that even a presidential phone call wouldn’t change his mind about running, appears unswayed by Specter’s prominent backers. He said he still questions whether Specter will be a reliable vote to advance Obama's agenda.

“I don’t think that a 'D' next to your name makes you a Democrat,” Sestak said. “It’s about whether Arlen will fight for the right issues, Democrat or Republican. He helped derail health care plans without an alternative in the '90s. Maybe he's changed, but I'm not sure we can take that chance.”

Specter has over $6.7 million in his campaign account, and polls show him comfortably leading Sestak in a Democratic primary. But Sestak also has a sizable warchest of his own — he banked $3.3 million at the end of March — and as a little-known congressman, has plenty of time to raise his profile.

There's a new Dem "machine", for those who weren't paying attention to the last election. It's called the "grassroots" -- i.e. real every day voters -- vs. the bought and paid for establishment. The first is the largest group. Remember how the "Clinton machine" made Hillary inevitable?
Real Dems, progressive Dems, will flock to Sestak, while Arlen "Which party should I be to get elected" Specter has whatever support can be paid for.
Go Joe!

Posted By: Keith | May 27, 2009 at 10:47 PM
- You hit it on the head, the establishment has to realize that the real voters AKA grassroots will not be dictated to and Spector "the incumbant" has a LOT of work to do.. my 2cents as a PA voter

OR MAYBE HE'LL RETIRE, BACK SESTAK AND WRITE A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BEST-SELLER ***
Another plausible scenario:
Specter decides not to run, throws his full support behind Sestak, and begins to write what could be an eye-popping political autobiography replete with revelations about some of modern American history's greatest mysteries (the letters "JFK" come to mind).
Specter also devotes himself to civil and human rights causes, such as the battle against creeping fascism as exemplified by the rise of a parallel system of vigilante (in)justice promoted and funded by secretive federal agencies and commands:
nowpublic.com/world/gestapo-usa-govt-funded-vigilante-network-terrorizes-america ***
OR (if link is corrupted /disabled):
NowPublic.com/scrivener

The objective should be who is the best qualified to represent the people of Penn in the US Senate. The D or R next to their name is just one indicator of their credentials.
While he wore a Republican badge I found Specter to be a respectable Senator and that has not changed because he now wears the badge of a Democrat.
I vote for someone who I believe is qualified and judges matters in the Senate with integrity and the country's best interst.
If Sestak thinks he is better qualified to serve in the Senate, the case better be more than he is a better Democrat. He is not a better Senator, having no experience or background in that role.